Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
I have been doing some research at the Warsaw Public Library looking at old issues of the Warsaw Union.
Reading papers in 1935, I came across a small article that noted there were 12 living Civil War veterans left in Kosciusko County. This would have been 70 years after the end of that horrible conflict between the North and the South in a time when division almost destroyed our nation.
It is similar to today when there are so few World War II veterans living 80 years after victory. I recently sat with 102-year-old Charlie Garner and have spent time with 103-year-old Bob Gast, both combat veterans of World War II, just talking to them about life.
They don’t focus on the war, certainly don’t brag about themselves and hope that they have left the world a little better place than they found it. They fought for liberty, in their experience in Europe against Nazism, but the world was also challenged by imperialism and facism.
Those Civil War veterans fought for a united country no longer bound by the scourge of slavery. Bob and Charlie fought for liberty “across the pond” united with our allies to end tyranny and hate. Both have mentioned in their own way that they wished we could get along better today.
Jesus once said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” There are probably less than 12 World War II veterans still living in Kosciusko County today. Their lives are examples that we should not focus on our differences as much as that which we have in common. May we all desire and pray for peace, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all mankind.
John F. Kennedy said this in 1961, “Today the eyes of all people are truly upon us — and our governments, in every branch, at every level, national, state and local, must be as a city upon a hill — constructed and inhabited by men aware of their great trust and their great responsibilities.”
With this year marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, may we honor Bob and Charlie and all who have served our nation these two and half centuries with solidarity. May we see renewal and not desolation under the banner of God’s providence as we continue to strive to be that city upon a hill!
Ken Locke is the retired corps administrator of The Salvation Army in Warsaw and director of the Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association. Have ideas for this column? Go to www.gwma.info.
